Powershell - How to grab multiple XML attributes in a loop

Question

What is the most efficient way to output the users in the format below:

Vinny,Blue|Red

Mike,Blue

LeeRoy,Blue

Jenny,Blue|Red

Deborah,Red

Using the following code:

<Section1 name="colors" category="colors">
  <Section2 name="Blue" category="color">
    <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
     <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="Mike" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="LeeRoy" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
    </Section3>
  </Section2>
  <Section2 name="Red" category="color">
    <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
      <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
      <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
      <Section4 name="Deborah" category="user"></Section4>
    </Section3>
  </Section2>
</Section1>

With the condition that if the users (Section4) appear in multiple colors (Section 2), they are separated by the | character.

At first I dumped all the colors in one array, then was going to dump all the users in another array, then I got stuck trying to do a couple of things...

Sage Pourpre · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-21 21:24:15Z

Here's one way to achieve this. That way, all your users and colors are linked together in one list.

In the example below, I am making use of the Select-XML statement to get the users, the Select-object to select multiple properties and finally I am using calculated properties to use change the property name returned and also get the color node.

[xml]$xml = @'
<Section1 name="colors" category="colors">
  <Section2 name="Blue" category="color">
    <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
     <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="Mike" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="LeeRoy" category="user"></Section4>
     <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
    </Section3>
  </Section2>
  <Section2 name="Red" category="color">
    <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
      <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
      <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
      <Section4 name="Deborah" category="user"></Section4>
    </Section3>
  </Section2>
</Section1>
'@


$value = Select-Xml -Xml $xml -XPath '//Section4'

$UsersArray = $value | select @{'n'='user';'e'={$_.Node.name}},@{'n'='color';'e'={$_.Node.ParentNode.ParentNode.name}}

# You can now manipulate your results as you see fit
$UsersArray | Sort user | ft

Useful references

The @{'n'='';'e'=''} shown in the example statement are shortcut for @{'name'='';'expression'=''}, which are Calculated properties. In your case, it allow us to get easily the color value once we are at the User level without any additional statement.

Select-XML reference for examples on how to use it.

sodawillow · Accepted Answer · 2017-09-21 21:04:02Z

(very) ugly but gives the desired output

[xml]$xml = '<Section1 name="colors" category="colors">
    <Section2 name="Blue" category="color">
        <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
            <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
            <Section4 name="Mike" category="user"></Section4>
            <Section4 name="LeeRoy" category="user"></Section4>
            <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
        </Section3>
    </Section2>
    <Section2 name="Red" category="color">
        <Section3 name="Users" category="users">
            <Section4 name="Vinny" category="user"></Section4>
            <Section4 name="Jenny" category="user"></Section4>
            <Section4 name="Deborah" category="user"></Section4>
        </Section3>
    </Section2>
</Section1>'

$users = $xml.Section1.Section2.Section3.Section4.Name | Select-Object -Unique

foreach($user in $users) {
    $matchedColors = @()
    foreach($color in $xml.Section1.Section2.Name) {
        if($xml.Section1.Section2.Where({ $_.Name -eq $color }).Section3.Section4.Name -contains $user) {
            $matchedColors += $color
        }
    }
    "{0},{1}" -f $user, ($matchedColors -join "|")
}

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